Phil Steel projects UF nation's most improved

[rogdochar]

I think the truest explain for our 4-8 season was that our players had been "untaught" football for 3 years by McCrew.

 

[oxrageous]

Interesting hypothetical.

That means having Callaway and Scarlett and having back ups at OT and LB would not have helped. Having Harris at safety would have helped. We had to play a slow walk on at LB and rookies at safety. Our only break away WR with speed was Cleveland who had hamstring issues.

'Nuff said.

 

[Theologator]

We would have won the same number of games even if the CC suspensions did not happen.

If any improvement, not much. We won a couple just barely and lost a couple just barely. I don’t think those players necessarily turn the 2 losses into wins. But the suspensions & distractions compounded with the injuries to magnify our weaknesses. Losing key defenders and the two sparkling freshmen (Davis & Toney) removed glimmers of hope. And let’s face it, a suckfest in the coaches’ leadership hurts way beyond “talent”. Everything after Mac’s pregame demotivation vs. UGA was complete destruction.

I’m glad the Mac era was pulled down by all of the above.

So I do agree with the premise of the article. There was/is better than 4-7 talent on the team. And there’s a much better than 4-7 mindset afoot. I’m not able to think higher than 8-9 wins and hope they prove me wrong in a happy way.

 

[soflagator]

Clearly, we did something very nice to Phil Steele a few years back(saved his puppy from the street, returned a missing wallet, something) and have enjoyed his favor ever since. As others have said, outside of the distraction, the CC players had zero impact on the losses. We had no game plan for Michigan and were abused throughout. The game in Jax was over from kickoff and by then the team had quit, largely because of JM's pregame speech. Mizzou was a carry over. You could argue that we had a chance against usce and(maybe) fsu, but it's not likely given the interim situation. So the only games you could hang that theory on are Lsu and A&M. But you could just as easily say we were a play away from losing to Uk and the vols. A wash to me.

We were bound for a bad year, because eventually JM's recruiting problems, and our S&C neglect, would begin to surface. Add that to horrendous overall coaching and you have 2017.

We should be improved this season. I just don't buy his reasons.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

You have to be an idiot to think that Butters fate was determined by the credit card suspensions. he'll Davis was better than Scarlett and wouldn't even have been on the field had Scarlet not been suspended. Our great coaches assessed him as the 5th best on the team and had him destined for a redshirt. The passing game was terrible not because of the lack of one 5 touchdown per year wide receiver. The problem was the offensive line looking like a pathetic West Texas OL for the third year and the quarterback being told to throw nothing but screen passes and crossing patterns in an almost 100% predictable manner.

Of course some people somehow saw Improvement every year and expected an offensive explosion because Pat Drooley told them so.

 

[BNAG8R]

Steele has one of the top records on projections. Credit card players lost:

Scarlett was in shape and fast and very good at breaking tackles which was needed with our out of shape OL.

Callaway has moral issues but is a proven play maker with speed.

We lost a top OT back up and LB depth was a major issue.

In addition losing senior defensive leader Harris also hurt.

I think Steele is completely reasonable in that statement. We did lose some close games in which those players could have made a difference.

Dude...you really make it hard to be a pumper around here.

 

[jhbyrd]

Scarlett might be our 3rd most complete back on the roster. And you assume he was fast and in shape, being we never saw him in game action.

He was a strong straight line runner with the ability to complete miss on pass blocking assignments.

Callaway, had the potential to be a play maker, also would disappear for games. He had the same problem most of the recievers had poor route running. Talent was never an issue, mental/attitude was.

Callaway broke 50 yards receiving in only 12 of the 26 games he played. Had a grand total of 8 tds (1 rushing) in 26 games played at Wide Receiver (He did have a passing TD on a trick play). So how is an inconsistent receiver going to fix what was fundamentally wrong with the offense.

He did have 3 return touchdowns (1 KO, 2 Punt) which is impressive over 26 games (55 punt, 6 KO returns)

Our top back OL was a Freshman... Seriously? I liked the kids size, but if our best backup linemen (OT) is a true freshman then we were already fcked. Also we lost two 3* true Freshman linebacker, with Houston already goin to be sidelined due to recovery from ACL injury in 2015.

Something is better than nothing hence having those players would have improved our odds in the close games.

Preseason ALL SEC Callaway alone could have made a difference. Play makers make a difference.

The NFL scouts and experts I have heard disagree with your analysis of Scarlett. He has a high rating in relation to breaking tackles which you need when your OL is out of shape. You probably did not see the articles on Scarlett working out elsewhere with a good trainer. He was planning on going pro and was in good shape. Our new trainer has gotten Scarlett in even better shape than last summer which backed up Steele 's opinion on improvement. Something is better than nothing. You are the only person I see having Scarlett as 3rd string as most say Scarlett will start. He is our fastest back in the 100 meter.

Losing that 4 star OT who we were planning on playing is something our out of shape OL could have used to give the starter a rest.Athlon said:

With the Gators’ questionable offensive line, Telfort is probably the favorite to receive the most snaps out of the early enrollees. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound tackle from Miami prep powerhouse Booker T. Washington was considered one of the best linemen in the 2017 recruiting class and could help Florida right away.





Our suspended 3 star LB was much more athletic than the walk on LB we had to start.

Again many additional things that could have made a difference in the close games last year and the upcoming games.

 

[jhbyrd]

'Nuff said.

You could see in his interviews the 2 time SEC EAST champ knew it was over when he found out about the scandal. Mac had put a lot of eggs in the Scarlett, Harris and Callaway basket.

Their loss allowed defenses to play UF differently and opposing offenses picked on our walk on LB and safety due to senior Harris's loss.

UGA would have beaten UF IRREGARDLESS but the close games are a different story.

 

[jhbyrd]

You have to be an idiot to think that Butters fate was determined by the credit card suspensions. he'll Davis was better than Scarlett and wouldn't even have been on the field had Scarlet not been suspended. Our great coaches assessed him as the 5th best on the team and had him destined for a redshirt. The passing game was terrible not because of the lack of one 5 touchdown per year wide receiver. The problem was the offensive line looking like a pathetic West Texas OL for the third year and the quarterback being told to throw nothing but screen passes and crossing patterns in an almost 100% predictable manner.

Of course some people somehow saw Improvement every year and expected an offensive explosion because Pat Drooley told them so.

As an idiot you may have a hard time understanding that losing your two top playmakers makers and defensive senior leader makes a difference in the close games.

As an idiot you may have a hard time understanding that Davis PLUS Scarlett is better than Davis without Scarlett. As an idiot you may have a hard time understanding that Davis may have not gotten injured if he could share the load with Scarlett.

 

[jhbyrd]

But...But...We still had the same coach....

I am glad Mac is gone but he did win the close games his prior 2 seasons. No way he could beat UGA but the close games All SEC Callaway and Scarlett and Senior defensive leader Harris could have made a difference.

 

[MJMGator]

The Professor’s not even a good pumper. He should stick to groping cats.

 

[jhbyrd]

But...But...We still had the same coach....

Glad Mac is gone but to be fair he did win the close games the prior 2 seasons. No way he could beat UGA but having all SEC Callaway, Scarlett and Harris could have made a difference in the close games.

Mullen's offense should do much better than Mac's thin 2017 team with additions of Van Jefferson, Grimes, Scarlett and Gamble at TE. Hopefully the addition of QB Jones and 2017 injured Trask can help the offense also.

 

[jhbyrd]

The Professor’s not even a good pumper. He should stick to groping cats.

l am looking to be fair not be a pumper. Speaking of pumper you need to
go pick up more viagra for your nursing home lover 78.Viagra can help 78 restore the weapon he lost last year.

 

[78]

l am looking to be fair not be a pumper. Speaking of pumper you need to
go pick up more viagra for your nursing home lover 78.Viagra can help 78 restore the weapon he lost last year.

I lost it the year before that. I'm bored as a stiff now.

 

[ergator920103]

After reading these comments is jhbyrd Jeremy Foley????? He is a MAJOR sunshine pumper...

 

[GR8 2B]

Something is better than nothing . . .

If the "something" is shyt, then I'll take the "nothing".

 

[oxrageous]

Byrd is an embarrassment because he's such a blind homer he'll even defend Butters. It's nauseating.

 

[Zambo]

Byrd is an embarrassment because he's such a blind homer he'll even defend Butters. It's nauseating.

I can't believe he's not butters.

 

[Gator Fever]

If Mac was convinced Scarlett was the best option to start then for much of the season we benefitted by him being suspended. He would have had similar numbers to the previous year like Perine did which wasn't in the ballpark of Davis

 

[Jack o' Diamonds]

I can't believe he's not butters.

I see what you did there...